I was curious about what it means when your boxer dog's hair stands on end. I hear it can be fear or when in they are in a high drive state.

The other day, my boxer heard a child screaming from inside another apt. in our building. He didn't actually see the child but was looking around for where the sound was coming from, and the hairs on his neck and all the way down to his back stood on end.

Is this because the screams freaked him out? Or because he thought they sounded like prey? (if so, that's a bit of a disturbing thought) I didn't notice anything else different about his stance - I didn't quite take notice of his ears or other body posture - he just stopped short in his tracks, seemed a bit stiff, and looked off into one direction for a bit.

It probably just freaked him out! lol Duke's hackles go up a lot too - even when someone knocks on the front door. It could mean fear or aggression depending on the situation. But it is perfectly normal.

roxie does that whenever she's super excited about something. any time your dog is over-aroused it can happen-- too excited, too scared, too nervous, ect. If he's not showing any signs of aggression otherwise, I'd say it's nothing to worry about

The first time Gabby did this I wondered if she was part ridgeback. Lol. My girls do it if they hear the neighbors, see another dog, squirrel, etc. Like m-elyse said, it seems to be a result of any type of over excitement.

Our boxer SuzyQ would only do this when she was alerted by someone in the driveway or someone at the door or she heard a noise and would get up and bark. But Sadie does it anytime she is excited. Her hair will stand up when I chase her around the yard with her frisbee. So it can be any kind of excitement. She almost looks like she has a Mohawk, because she has a ridge all the way up her neck almost to the crown of her head.